Hi,
My search for a decent diesel continues...
Could anyone offer me some information on a 3 Series 1.8 TD on a 99 T plate? Who built the engine, what the power output of it, is it any good etc?
Also, does £9,500 sound good for this model year with a decent spec (alloys, air con, leather etc)?
Thanks in Advance,
James
|
It's called TDS for a reason. It's tedious. 90 bhp but very, very slow, must be torquey though.
£9500 sounds a little on the high side unless it's very low mileage, but not too bad, especially as it has leather.
That money would more than get you a Golf GT TDi with 60k of the same age. Much more performance and space, and even if the handling's better on the Beemer, you won't care because the Beemer doesn't have the power to expoloit its chassis. The Golf will also be even more economcial and probably noticeably cheaper to insure.
|
Nope,
I've checked around and all of the Golf's are criminally priced - £9,995 for an S plate (So only a 110, not a 115 6 speed) with 75-90k on the clock.
Why oh why is that damn mkiv Golf still so much dosh :-(
|
Isn't there a Seat or Skoda alternative to the Golf? The Golf carries a lot of premium for the image and you can't be that worried about your image or you wouldn't be looking at a diesel!
Only joking you oil burners.
But the VW badge is a big part of your problem with the price and the others get reviewed favourably.
|
Maybe in the franchises, but the Great Trade Centre in London has an S plate with 70k for £7995. Admittedly, you won't get leather on the Golf but it's still a better car than the BMW.
Where are you based? And what's the mileage on the BMW you're looking at?
|
|
|
|
See my thread 'Why is it so desirable to own a VW', it may be of interest.
In response to the criminal pricing of VW, it's because people want them and will pay for them.
Quality is indeed debatable.
If everyone boycotted the VW Golf (I think the Golf's most affected by Criminal pricing driven by demand) and didn't buy them, I suspect the prices may drop.
How about a Bora, now there's a car I like and it's a bit more sensibly priced: A bit tighter chassis too.
Cheers - Jon S
|
Jon,
Read the thread with great interest and totally agree with all your points. The only reason I would like a VW (Golf or newer Polo) is because it seems to be the only decent Diesel around. The 1.4 TDi PD in the Polo is a nice little runner and the 1.9PD in any of the TDi's is also great - but the status thing is a pain.
Being how common Golf's in particular seem to be now, how do you think the launch of the mkV will affect pricing? I don't see it plummeting, but think the bottom will drop out of it.
James
PS: Found a nice Bora for 2k less than the Golf, going to drive it and see.
|
Know what you mean about thinking it's the only decent diesel around...but there are others that don't get the PR. The following might be worth looking into.
C3 HDI 16v - perhaps a bit new (fiesta and peugeot? have the 8V version)
Renault clio 1.5 dci or the slightly older 1.9
Rover 220 SDI. Performance wise, the match of the VW 110 engines (although slightly less refined) In the reasonably light 200 this goes pretty well and is moderately priced.
The JTD engines from Alfa / fiat seem to geta decent write up but I haven't tried them first hand.
You could pick up an Audi a4 tdi / passat TDI cheaper than a Golf TDI.
Or what of an Audi 80 TDI?
Just some personal thought of mine to disregard at your whim.
|
Sorrera - had almost exactly this discussion on a lawyers' discussion board this morning.
Not that you'd have been there, would you?
|
In my opinion the latest 1.9TDI engines from VW/Audi are only for drivers who are
1. tone deaf
2. have no sense of vibration
3. Have never driven a Citroen diesel.
OK on motorways, a real pain in towns /traffic etc.
I sold mine: unbearable after a while.
madf
|
In my opinion the latest 1.9TDI engines from VW/Audi are only for drivers who are 1. tone deaf 2. have no sense of vibration 3. Have never driven a Citroen diesel. OK on motorways, a real pain in towns /traffic etc. I sold mine: unbearable after a while. madf
I saw a Golf Mk4 the other day. I thought it was quite a noisy diesel but was surprised to see it was a 2.0GTI petrol. PSA diesels are noisy old things - stay with BMW common rail diesels (which the 318tds isn't).
|
|
|
"Have never driven a Citroen diesel."
Maybe he gets sea-sick, in which case a wallowy French suspension set up may not suit.
|
|
|
|
"Lawyers discussion board" sounds expensive.
|
Thought about the Renault Clio 1.5Dci, although pricey for a small car thats going EOL next year.
Never been a Rover fan, especially the new Z range (ZR Diesel is £££). The 1.5DTi in the new Corsa seems OK, anyone heard otherwise?
Big fan of the Peugeot/Citroen diesels but can never seem to find one that I like :-(
Gonna give the BMW a miss though as its the older shape and insurance was crazy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And a booted golf, so why is a Bora a better choice?
|
Clio dci - nice car alright, but depreciation slightly worse than I expected. Terrible dealers. Terrible dealers. Terrible dealers.
Bigger car for £9500 - Rover 75 Connoisseur SE with highish miles say 80k or more. You can get a 2000 plate car for under £10k now. Not hugely fast, but the chip upgrade might help. Or get a Seat Leon TDi and chip it from 110 to 150 bhp.
|
|
|
|
|
|
